China is a South Asian country, sharing borders with 14 countries including India. Governed by the Communist Party of China (CPC) since 1949, it has rapidly transformed into a global manufacturing hub and technological leader. Its significance lies in its economic rise in the region and hegemonic influence over smaller countries through loans and the Belt and Road Initiative.
As the epicenter of COVID-19, China faced global scrutiny over its pandemic response. Its strict zero-COVID policy and economic slowdowns have affected global markets, while trade disputes and technological restrictions with the US, EU, and India continue to shape its global relations.
China’s foreign policy is marked by its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), expanding influence through infrastructure projects, and territorial disputes, particularly in the South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and along the India-China border. It fought a war with India in 1962 over Aksai Chin, and tensions persist along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), most recent being the Galwan Valley clash in 2020.
The name, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, itself shows where the locus of influence lies. These four CAR were originally part of the Soviet Union. Have retained security relationships with Russia. However, they do a lot of trade with China, an immense market for their hydrocarbons and natural resources. Deeply landlocked, happy to see the connectivity that BRI and other initiatives create. To be honest, India cannot compete with China within the SCO. 2. When India and Pakistan were invited to join SCO, with Russia playing a role, it was conveyed to them that this was not a forum for them to air their bilateral differences. Unfortunately, that situation has raised between India and China as well. We can either use the forum to deepen our economic engagement with CAR, leaving our issues with China and Pakistan to one side, or face a situation when it becomes awkward to attend summits.